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Kenmare accelerates women-focused diversity agenda

ELAINE DORWARD-KING Kenmare is keen to continue advancing the interests of women in Mozambique

DIONISIA MARIO One of the original students of the Kenmare Moma Development Association, currently employed by the company as an intern in the heavy mobile equipment department

FORWARD WE GO Kenmare Resources directors with the Kenmare Women in Mining Forum committee

ALL IN Mozambican women participating in a Kenmare Moma Development Association project

7th August 2020

By: Mamaili Mamaila

Journalist

     

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Dual-listed titanium minerals and zircon producer Kenmare Resources is focused on increasing the number of women in its workforce as the company recognises that diversity, particularly gender diversity, is a key driver of business success.

Kenmare employed more than 1 420 people, of which 8% are women, at its Moma mine, in Mozambique, last year.

This represents an increase compared with the figures of 2018 and 2017 of 7% and 5% respectively, Kenmare nonexecutive director and sustainability committee chairperson Elaine Dorward-King tells Mining Weekly.

Although Dorward-King is pleased with the year-on-year increase in female representation, she underlines that “we have further to go”.

“We are proud of the initiatives we have put in place to attract more women to join our team. One initiative was to provide training for 50 Mozambican women to be heavy mobile equipment operators and, as a result, 16 of them became permanent employees,” she enthuses.

Meanwhile, Kenmare also supports mentorship programmes, where its female employees regularly visit schools in its host communities and speak to girls about pursuing careers in mining. The company, Dorward-King explains, is keen to continue advancing the interests of women in Mozambique and to encourage the next generation of women to gain further education and seek skilled positions in Kenmare’s team.

“We are proud that there are currently 24 women in positions of managerial responsibility at the Moma mine,” she states, adding that the company understands that representation matters and that it is important for women in more junior roles to see that if they work hard and make a positive contribution to the company, they are likely to be promoted to senior positions.

“There is also one woman on our executive management team and seven women in senior roles who report directly to executive team members. I am currently the only female director, but we are working towards having female directors represent 25% of our board by the end of this year.”

Further, Dorward-King tells Mining Weekly that Kenmare believes that it is important to encourage networking groups. One such group is the Kenmare Women in Mining Forum, which was established in 2019 to give women employees a direct line of communication with management.

The forum also provides a safe space where they can share advice and experiences and discuss any challenges they may face in the workplace.

“I was honoured to be invited to speak at a meeting of the forum when I visited Moma in January. I invited my fellow directors to attend with me so that the members of the forum would have a chance to speak with board members, as well as senior management, face-to-face.”

Community Development

The company established the Kenmare Moma Development Association (KMAD), a nonprofit development organisation that implements development initiatives in Moma’s host communities, in 2004.

KMAD, she points out, is focused on ensuring that women in Mozambique directly benefit from its community initiatives. Some of these initiatives have included constructing and equipping a maternity unit at the community health centre at Mtiticoma and supporting small businesses, a number of which are run by women.

KMAD also established a scholarship programme for learners who successfully passed grade 7 in the primary schools in Moma’s host communities in 2013.

Another key objective of this programme is to ensure that as many girls as possible benefit. One of the original students of this programme, Dionisia Mario, concluded her general mechanics course at Carapira Vocational School in 2019 and she is currently employed by Kenmare as an intern in the heavy mobile equipment department.

“Dionisia’s success underscores the importance of providing educational opportunities for girls, ensuring that local people benefit from the presence of Moma.”

Dorward-King adds that she hopes in the process to instil a better appreciation for mining’s contribution towards a more sustainable world.

“For example, the metals and minerals we mine are critical for lower carbon emissions and striving toward a more equitable and sustainable world.”

One focus, she highlights, will be corporate diversity and workplace cultures that are inclusive and enabling. Another will be how mining companies contribute to local economic development, transferable skills development, local enterprises and their participation in supply chains, improved schools and medical access for their host communities.

Dorward-King notes that it is critically important that girls and women have access to education and medical care, including reproductive support, and have the opportunity to earn and manage their own money.

“We want girls to move from success in their local school to obtaining an advanced qualification or university degree to working in the mining sector,” she comments, adding that, through education and opportunity, women will excel.

Edited by Nadine James
Features Deputy Editor

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